Monday, February 4, 2013

Blaer Bjarkardottir Wins Right To Use Her Given Name

January 31, 2012 - "REYKJAVIK, Iceland -- A 15-year-old Icelandic girl has been granted the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother, despite the opposition of authorities and Iceland's strict law on names.

"Reykjavik District Court ruled Thursday that the name "Blaer" can be used.... The decision overturns an earlier rejection by Icelandic authorities who declared it was not a proper feminine name. Until now, Blaer Bjarkardottir had been identified simply as "Girl" in communications with officials.

"'I'm very happy,' she said after the ruling. 'I'm glad this is over. Now I expect I'll have to get new identity papers. Finally I'll have the name Blaer in my passport.'

"Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. Names are supposed to fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules....

"The court found that based on testimony and other evidence, that the name could be used by both males and females and that Blaer had a right to her own name under Iceland's constitution and Europe's human rights conventions."